Grand Passage Lifeboat Station, Digby County, NS

Notice of Determination

September 25, 2026 – The federal authorities have determined that the proposed Grand Passage Lifeboat Station, Digby County, NS project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. 

This determination was based on a consideration of the following factors:

• impacts on rights of Indigenous peoples;
• Indigenous knowledge;
• community knowledge;
• comments received from the public; and
• technically and economically feasible mitigation measures.

Mitigation measures  taken into account for this determination are: 

• Develop and implement a project-specific Environmental Protection Plan, Emergency Response Plan, and Erosion and Sediment Control Plan.
• Restrict construction activities to approved work areas and minimize environmental disturbance.
• Regularly inspect and maintain erosion and sediment control measures throughout construction.
• Remove erosion and sediment control measures once disturbed areas have been stabilized.
• Assess weather conditions daily and avoid work during severe weather events where practical.
• Ensure all construction materials are clean and non-toxic.
• Prevent construction materials, debris, waste, and contaminants from entering marine, freshwater, or terrestrial environments.
• Dispose of all waste materials and debris at approved facilities.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive blast plan in accordance with DFO Guidelines for the Use of Explosives in or Near Canadian Fisheries Waters and the project-specific Risk Assessment of Underwater Blasting.
• Conduct blasting only during daylight hours and within approved seasonal windows.
• Implement a minimum 500 m exclusion zone for marine mammals and species at risk.
• Conduct pre-blast monitoring and delay blasting if marine mammals or species at risk are present within the exclusion zone.
• Employ soft-start procedures, scare charges, or other approved fish deterrence methods before blasting.
• Utilize bubble curtains or equivalent attenuation measures where required.
• Ensure blasting complies with applicable overpressure and vibration thresholds established by DFO.
• Remove blasting debris from the marine environment and dispose of it at approved upland locations.
• Implement all conditions of the Fisheries Act Authorization issued by DFO Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program.
• Maintain fish passage and avoid restricting channel width or flows.
• Minimize the duration of in-water works.
• Conduct turbidity monitoring in accordance with Fisheries Act Authorization requirements.
• Utilize sediment control measures such as silt curtains where necessary.
• Restore any temporarily disturbed habitat features.
• Implement the approved fish habitat offsetting plan and associated monitoring requirements.
• Conduct all blasting activities in accordance with approved monitoring requirements, including use of soft-start procedures, scare charges, exclusion zones, and bubble curtains where required.
• Conduct periodic visual monitoring for marine mammals, sharks, sea turtles, and other listed aquatic species at risk.
• Suspend blasting or other applicable activities when listed species are observed within prescribed safety zones.
• Resume activities only after species have exited the area or monitoring requirements have been satisfied.
• Clean and inspect vessels, barges, excavators, pumps, pipelines, cranes, haul trucks, and other equipment before arriving on site.
• Maintain records demonstrating equipment cleaning and aquatic invasive species prevention measures.
• Drain standing water from equipment and allow equipment to dry prior to transfer between waterbodies.
•  
• Control runoff and prevent the release of sediment-laden water to adjacent aquatic environments.
• Conduct visual turbidity monitoring and stop work if excessive sedimentation is observed.
• Wash, refuel, and service equipment in a manner that prevents deleterious substances from entering waterbodies.
• Store, handle, and transport hazardous materials in accordance with applicable legislation.
• Install and maintain drainage, erosion-control, and sediment-control infrastructure during upland construction activities.
• Conduct all work in compliance with the Migratory Birds Convention Act.
• Conduct nest surveys where work may occur during the migratory bird nesting period.
• Establish and maintain appropriate buffers around active nests where required.
• Direct lighting away from nesting and wildlife habitat where practical.
• Ensure food waste and garbage do not accumulate at the worksite.
• Restrict vehicles, equipment, materials, and activities to designated work areas.
• Inspect work areas daily for wildlife prior to commencing activities.
• Stabilize and restore disturbed areas following construction.
• Implement Environment and Climate Change Canada guidance for oiled seabirds if encountered during project activities.
• Stop work immediately if archaeological resources or potential heritage materials are encountered.
• Notify the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage and the project authority if archaeological resources are discovered.
• Implement chance-find procedures for archaeological resources and human remains.
• Comply with all applicable conditions issued under the Canadian Navigable Waters Act.
• Notify the Canadian Coast Guard Marine Communications and Traffic Services prior to the commencement and completion of in-water works.
• Maintain navigation safety measures, including signage, lights, buoys, and notices to mariners, throughout construction.
• Maintain safe passage for vessels through or around the work area.
• Remove any tools, equipment, temporary structures, debris, or materials from navigable waters upon completion of construction activities.
• Implement dust control measures, including water application where required.
• Minimize equipment idling.
• Maintain equipment in good working order to minimize emissions and noise.
• Conduct construction during approved working hours.
• Minimize unnecessary noise, vibration, horns, and other disturbance where practical.
• Maintain spill response equipment onsite at all times.
• Develop and implement spill response procedures.
• Report spills and releases to the appropriate authorities.
• Clean up spills immediately and dispose of impacted materials appropriately.

The federal authorities are satisfied that that the carrying out of the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. Therefore, the federal authorities may carry out the project, exercise any power, perform any duty or function, or provide financial assistance to enable the project to be carried out in whole or in part.